Means for generating air currents and controlling temperature of same



G. VAN DAAM Dec. 5, 1933.

MEANS FOR GENERATING AIR CURRENTS AND CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF SAMEFiled Dec. 22. 1931 Mentor. Gerri? lrefiarn Patented Dec. 5, 1933 1UNITED STATES MEANS FOR GENERATING AIR CURRENTS AND CONTROLLINGTEMPERATURE OF SAME Gerrit Van Daam, Buflalo, N. Y.

Application December 22, 1931 Serial No. 582,534

3 Claims. (01. 219--39) The invention relates to improved means forcreating a current of air at surrounding temperature and alsoarbitrarily controlled means for imparting thereto a temperature eitherabove or below that of the surrounding atmosphere.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates merely by way of examplesuitable means for effecting my invention:---

Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation on the plane of line 3 of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation on enlarged scale of the hand operatedswitch arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electric connections throughout the severalviews.

In Fig. 1 is shown the electric motor 10, on the shaft of which motor ismounted the fan 11, enclosed within the usual cage 12, in front of whichis movably connected the frame or ring 13 carrying the electricresistance '14. The movable connection is shown by way of example, asthe hinge 15. The frame or ring 13 may obviously be in sections, eachmovably connected to the cage 12, as by a hinge 15. Awire guard 16 isalso provided, secured to the ring 13 in front of the resistance 14. Atthe opposite side of ring 13 from the hinge 15 is a spring contactelement 17 in electrical connection with the resistance 14. This springcontact 17 is adapted to engage the cooperating contact 18 mounted onthe cage 12. This contact 18 is adapted to be connected with the line.These cooperating spring contacts 17 and 18 serve the double purpose ofan electric switch for the circuit of the heating element, and a latchor detent for normally holding the heating element in operativeposition.

Mounted at a convenient point-on the cage 12 is shown a plate 19carrying contacts 20 and 21 adapted to be connected respectively withthe heating resistance and with means associated with a source ofcooling medium; A hand operated switch 22 is mounted on this plate 19and is con-' nected with the line and adapted to contact either withcontact 20 or 21 or to assume a neutral position out of engagement witheither said contact.

A motor 23 adapted to operate in connection with the usual refrigeratingmeans, is connected on one side of the line and adapted to be connectedon the other side of the line through the switch 22.

The refrigerating mechanism may be of any suitable type, enclosed forexample in the casing 24 which forms a support for the motor supportingframe 25.

A connecting channel 26 is provided in communication with the coolingchamber within the casing 24 and delivering to an annular channel 2'7provided in the annular formation 28, which surrounds the housing ofmotor 10. This formation 28 is provided with a number of openings 29directed toward the fan 11.

The circuit of the motor 10 is controlled by the switch 30.

In operation:-

When switch 30 is closed the fan 11 is operated, and unless the heatingmeans or cooling means are brought into circuit at the same time, thesurrounding atmosphere only is effected. That is the fan 11 is actuatedto generate a current of air at the temperature of the surroundingatmosphere. To bring the heating element into action, the frame 13,supporting the resistance 14, must be brought into the closed positionshown in Fig. 1, with the elements 17 and 18 in contact and also theswitch 22 must engage the contact element 20. When these conditionsprevail the major portion of the air current produced by fan 11 isheated by passing through the heating resistance 14.

When the elements 17 and 18 are separated the heating resistance becomesinoperative, and also when the switch 22 fails to engage contact 20, theheating element is out of commission. That is to say, both the contacts17 and 18 and the contacts 20-and 22 must be in cooperation before theheating element can be effective.

When switch 22 is brought into engagement with contact 21, means becomeefiective for delivering a cooling medium to the air current produced bythe fan 11.

In the example shown the motor 23 of a suitable refrigerating plant isbrought into circuit,

95 and means connecting the cooling chamber with the chambered formation28 enables the fan 11 to draw the cooled air from said formation throughthe ports 19.

It will of course be understood that other means controlled for example,by switch 22 or other suitable means, may be equally eflective fordelivering a cooling medium to the current of air generated by fan 11.

What I claim is:-

1. The combination of an electric motor and fan adapted to be driventhereby, a cage for enclosing the fan, an electric heating element and asupporting frame therefor, said frame having a movable connection withthe cage, and a device, and an electric circuit control including fixedand movable contact elements operating to close the circuit either ofthe heating element, or of the refrigerating device as may be desired.

; cults open.

3. The combination of a casing and a support, an electric motor and fanand a heating resistance associated with the support, an electricrefrigerating device within the casing, and a common control for theheating element and the refrigerating device, comprising fixed contactsin the electric circuit and a cooperating movable contact elementadapted to assume any one of three positions to closefthe circuit of theheating element, to close the circuit of the refrigerating device or toassume the position with both cir- GERRIT VAN DAAM.

